We set off from the mooring yesterday after wiggling the boat around to break free of the shallow water (getting used to having to do this, and hop-on and off the gap to get the lines done! – my “Mario” jump as CC puts it! ) – leaving the massacre of mice, rodents and birds behind from the cats party yesterday..
We wanted to head off to Hungerford which was only a few hours away, with a water point in-between. Once at Hungerford – a trip to the shops before continuing on..
We got though Brunsdon Lock – with a little confusion – on approach a boat was coming down, and i beeped the horn to signal that another boat was coming and the gates should be left open – its with that the confusion started.. as I pulled in early to let Dawson and CC off to deal with the lock – they thought I was pulling in and not wanting the lock – so closed the gates.. another beep later.. I believe they got the gist of what was happening.. 🙂
And.. Yet another CRT boat moored at the lock landing.. getting a bit fed up with this one rule for one and one for those that pay to use the services lark as the mooring in Kintbury was 50% full of work boats.. which is why we couldn’t use them!
An interesting way of a gate closer.. chain between the gate and the fence.. with a large weight in the middle.. works rain, shine or snow, hot or cold.. and a lot cheaper and simpler to maintain (if at all) – than a sprung closer..
Wire Lock – was slow to empty – as a pair of blue tits decided to build a nest within the winding gear of one of the lower paddles.. so it was locked off and could not be used – as doing so would destroy the nest!
Dun Mill lock – another one with one set of lower gate paddles shut off, this time due to loose brickwork on the water channel, and using the paddle, and the subsequent rush of water it causes could loosen it further causing a total stoppage or collapse of the lock wall (So good to see these maintained really well CRT!).
But the dogs didnt care.. they were comfy getting some shade in :
We got to the water point just outside of Hungerford and topped off the water tank.. ( A water point a day keeps the air locks away!).. and soon after reached Hungerford and pulled in at the green by the bridge. I have seen this location many times before having driven here to get fuel cell fuel (Methanol) from Fuel Cell Systems who are located near the station (they supplied the generator I installed several months ago..).. so was happy that there was a spot for us here at the 48 hour mooring. Which to be honest, considering how nice and quiet this location is, I’m very surprised its not full all the time!
After returning from the shops, we decided to stay for the 48 hours – which gave me chance to get some extra hours in on Sunday and work through today – with time for the kids to get some down time, and Anna to do a bit more shopping.
And.. as per usual.. boats arrived and left.. one pulled in (with paint work styled after the wind in the willows – guess the name of the boat…) after buying and picking the boat up the day before, and asked if I knew anything about the toilet systems on their boat as theirs seemed to be blocked (another blocked toilet!).. no matter how long boaters are together and chatting.. eventually the subject of toilets is always raised! 🙂 After looking, and removing the pump out cap.. I basically explained that it wasn’t blocked – it was just so full that there was nowhere for it to go.. it just needed a pump out, and as per all tank gauges (ours included).. chances are the sensor has a bit of “crap” jamming it at the empty position.. which is why its reading empty.. when its not!
I also explained that as they have a “stop” button for the engine.. ( unlike a car – where the key turns on, starts and removing turns off the engine.. older boats have “start” and “stop” buttons.. and all the ignition key does is connect a few cables up for things to work.. and turning the key to off with the engine running, without pressing the stop button and stopping the engine first – is likely to destroy the alternator(s).. as removing the ignition key disconnects the electrical systems – and the alternator from the batteries, and if the engine is still running, and the alternator spinning without being connected to anything can damage the rectifier within it.. ( And as he explained that one of the alternators was not charging correctly.. I suspect that this has already happened! )
Soon after, later on this afternoon, “Meandering Mo” which we shared locks with a few days ago – arrived to take the last spot at the mooring here.. and another smaller boat “Judy” – that arrived just ahead of them was decent enough to not take the last space.. so we offered that they moor up along side us for the rest of the day and the night.
Someone is settled on the rear deck after a day of hunting yesterday..
So this is how we spent tonight.. boats in front, behind and next to us.. with the green for the cats the other side.. At some point tomorrow we will be moving on again.. but I don’t think we will be in a rush to do so 🙂